The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Mini-Auction in Abu Dhabi was a landmark event, rewriting record books and transforming players’ careers. With 77 slots to fill across ten franchises and a substantial purse of Rs. 237.55 crore, the bidding wars were intense, particularly for top overseas all-rounders and emerging Indian talent.
A total of 369 players were shortlisted for the auction, with franchises focusing on strategic acquisitions to strengthen their squads rather than complete overhauls.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) emerged as major players, possessing the largest purse of Rs. 64.30 crore. They secured Australian all-rounder Cameron Green for a staggering Rs. 25.20 crore, making him the most expensive overseas player in IPL history. KKR also acquired Matheesha Pathirana for Rs. 18.00 crore, the second-highest price for an overseas player.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK), also with a significant Rs. 64.30 crore purse, focused on uncapped Indian talent. They splurged Rs. 14.20 crore each on all-rounder Prashant Veer and wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma, setting a new record for the highest-paid uncapped Indian players. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) secured Liam Livingstone for Rs. 13 crore after he went unsold initially.
The auction also saw significant investment in uncapped Indian players. Besides CSK’s major buys, Delhi Capitals (DC) invested Rs. 8.40 crore in Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi Dar. Other notable buys included Venkatesh Iyer to RCB for Rs. 7 crore, Josh Inglis and Anrich Nortje to LSG, and Jason Holder to GT. Mumbai Indians (MI) made a shrewd move by reacquiring Quinton de Kock for his base price, while Rajasthan Royals (RR) bolstered their spin attack with Ravi Bishnoi for Rs. 7.20 crore. DC also secured David Miller and Ben Duckett at base prices.
The auction’s unpredictability was evident as several established players, including Devon Conway and Michael Bracewell, went unsold in initial rounds, though some found buyers in accelerated bidding. Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan were also initially unsold but were later picked up by DC and CSK, respectively.